Tag: Koch Records

KOCH Records announces the addition of critically-acclaimed heavy trio HIGH ON FIRE to its roster. The band just completed a run of West Coast dates and now will focus on writing the new CD that will be released in Summer 2009.
HIGH ON FIRE — Matt Pike (guitar, vocals), Des Kensel (drums) and Jeff Matz (bass) — has released four critically acclaimed albums during its career, starting with their debut, “The Art of Self Defense,” on the now defunct Man’s Ruin label. Their latest album, “Death Is This Communion,” was released in 2007.

Scott Givens, VP of Metal, says, “HIGH ON FIRE is one of the most important bands in the metal genre and we are extremely excited to be working with them.”

Kerrang! has called HIGH ON FIRE “a metal juggernaut,” while Spin describes them as “a beast of a band.”

High on Fire performed on Gigantour 2008, alongside heavyweights Megadeth and KOCH recording artists In Flames, and recently wrapped up a tour with Opeth.

Throwdown and KOCH Records have joined forces. The band will begin recording “Deathless,” their first album under this new deal, in early 2009.

“Signing with KOCH Records is a breath of fresh air for us,” said Throwdown frontman Dave Peters. “KOCH looks at their artists in a progressive way and can see that what we’ve given a decade of our lives to build is still far from completion. It’s no mystery that the music industry is caught in upheaval right now. We’re confident in the mutual autonomy of KOCH and Throwdown to come together and not only weather the storm, but thrive in it.”

“I am thrilled to add Throwdown to the growing KOCH Metal roster and am looking forward to putting out what is surely one of the most anticipated releases of 2009,” says KOCH Records VP of Metal Scott Givens. “The band is poised to claim a major stake in the American metal scene and we are thrilled that they have chosen KOCH to be their partners.”

The largest independent record label in the United States, KOCH is home to recent releases from Throwdown’s friends and touring mates In Flames and Hatebreed, and has recently signed both Satyricon and High On Fire.

“We look forward to the continued development of our relationship with KOCH and the opportunity to be included with the wealth of talent on their roster,” added Throwdown bass player Mark Mitchell.

Throwdown recently completed touring behind their last album, “Venom & Tears,” which was produced by the band with Mudrock (Avenged Sevenfold, Chimaira). The past two years saw them on the road with Korn (Australia), Killswitch Engage (Canada), Cavalera Conspiracy (U.S.), Machine Head / Arch Enemy (U.S.), headlining the Ernie Ball stage on the Vans Warped Tour, hitting major European festivals like Download UK, and headlining a U.S. tour of their own.

Revolver called Throwdown’s last album the band’s “most metallic,” combining “the hateful groove of Sepultura and Pantera.” Outburn elaborated further: “This is a much more expansive, daring record, featuring longer songs and a greater diversity of influences while retaining that core pummeling heaviness the band has built its rep upon.”

The band is in the writing stages now for “Deathless,” which promises to be even more dynamic and pulverizing than the last one. “Deathless” will be the band’s fourth album with Peters as frontman and primary songwriter, its second with Choiniere (who joined the band in 2005) and first with Mitchell. Drummer Jarrod Alexander (ex-Death By Stereo), who performed on the band’s breakthrough “Haymaker” album in 2003, will return to work on “Deathless.”

“Mark Choiniere and I have been writing material on our own time for months now,” Peters explained. “We have a great head start on the writing process. It’s always hard to say how the songs will ultimately evolve. You think it’s going one way and the slightest idea or change turns it into a whole other animal. The mix of riffs and loose song skeletons we have right now is a lot more eclectic at this phase than it was for any of our other records.”

Throwdown has spent the last several years touring relentlessly. Ozzfest (2004), Sounds Of The Underground (2005), Vans Warped Tour (2006 & 2007), Black Dahlia Murder (co-headline), and several other headlining and support tours across the globe including packages with Lamb Of God, Fear Factory, As I Lay Dying and more.

In the coming weeks, the band will announce who will be producing and mixing “Deathless.”

Releasing “Para Siempre” the new CD (out now in the Europe & Scandinavia through Bad Reputation ) in July through Nightmare Records & Distribution, KOCH USA and Canada.

Gypsy Pistoleros will also be doing a US tour from July 6th – Aug. 9th 2008.

Gypsy Pistoleros will be playing Memphis Music Fest 2008 on July 6th and Rocklahoma 2008 on July 11th headlining the Tri-label stage .Further bookings will be handled through Ugly But Proud out of Detroit, MI.

They also begin servicing radio with the first single from Gypsy Pistoleros “Para Siempre” album ,which is “Livin La Vida Loca”.

So please if you are a Gypsy Pistoleros fan go and request the song with your local radio stations.

Blastzone Entertainment Group and Gypsy Pistoleros will have list of stations serviced with “Livin La Vida Loca” very soon. We will also be doing a video of “Livin La Vida Loca” at Rocklahoma 2008 to service to video channels all over the world. If you want to be part of the video make sure you are at Rocklahoma 2008 to see Gypsy Pistoleros live.

Blastzone Entertainment Group and Gypsy Pistoleros have more major to come! So keep checking both our Myspaces at www. myspace. com/gypsypistoleros & www. myspace. com/blastzoneentgroup.